10. Access, Traffic and Transport
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Viking Wind Farm Chapter 10 Section 36 Variation Application - EIA Report Access, Traffic and Transport 10. ACCESS, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT Executive Summary This chapter provides an assessment of the likely significant effects from the proposed varied development on access, traffic and transport. This chapter has been prepared by Ramboll, with reference to the Guidelines for the Environmental Assessment of Road Traffic (the Institute of Environmental Assessment (IEA), 1993). The baseline data has been updated with Automatic Traffic Count (ATC) data for the most recent year available (2017) for the same or comparable locations used in the ES. The estimated traffic movement numbers have been calculated based on benchmark data from a recent wind farm development. The Applicant provided input on the temporal distribution of the traffic movements based on the likely construction programme. It is proposed that a construction phase traffic management plan is implemented, in consultation with the Shetland Islands Council (SIC), as required by condition attached to the relevant section 36 consent1. Following the application of proposed mitigation measures, no significant effects are predicted either for the proposed varied development; or, for the proposed varied development in combination with relevant cumulative wind farm developments. Furthermore, there would be no difference between the effects identified for the consented Viking Wind Farm and the proposed varied development. 1 Condition 30 (Annex 2, part 2) of the relevant section 36 consent requires a TMP to be submitted for the approval of the Planning Authority prior to the commencement of the development. Viking Energy Windfarm LLP November 2018 10-1 Viking Wind Farm Chapter 10 Section 36 Variation Application - EIA Report Access, Traffic and Transport 10.1 Introduction 10.1.1 This chapter provides an assessment of the potential effects from the proposed varied development on access, traffic and transport. The specific objectives of the chapter are to: • describe the baseline; • summarise the assessment methodology and significance criteria used in completing the impact assessment; • describe the likely significant effects of the consented Viking Wind Farm and the proposed varied development; • describe the mitigation measures proposed to address likely significant effects; • assess the significance of residual effects remaining following the implementation of mitigation; and • provide an assessment of how the likely significant effects of the proposed varied development differ from the effects of the consented Viking Wind Farm. 10.1.2 This chapter has been prepared by Ramboll Environment and Health UK Limited (Ramboll), with reference to the Guidelines for the Environmental Assessment of Road Traffic (the Institute of Environmental Assessment (IEA), 1993). 10.1.3 This chapter is supported by: • Technical Appendix 10.1: Estimated Traffic Movements. 10.1.4 Figures 10.1 – 10.3 are referenced in the text where relevant. 10.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria Scope of Assessment 10.2.1 This assessment considers likely significant resulting from the consented Viking Wind Farm and the proposed varied development, as described in Chapter 2 (Description of Development) of this EIA Report. 10.2.2 The baseline data used has been updated with Automatic Traffic Count (ATC) data for the most recent year available (2017) for the same or comparable locations as were used in the ES and ES Addendum. The estimated traffic movement numbers used have been calculated on a pro-rata basis (per turbine) using the traffic management plan prepared for the recent Stronelairg Wind Farm (recently constructed) with input from the Applicant on construction programme and temporal distrubtion of the trips. 10.2.3 All access points or traffic movements associated with the Delting and Collafirth quadrants of the scheme assessed in the ES have been scoped out of this assessment as they were removed from the consented Viking Wind Farm. Development Phases 10.2.4 There are three phases of development to be considered: the construction, the operational and the decommissioning phases. During construction, vehicles would access the site transporting construction staff, construction materials (aggregates, cement, steel bar etc) and plant items. This phase would involve the greatest number of vehicle movements to and from the site. 10.2.5 Once the proposed varied development is operational, it is envisaged that the amount of traffic associated with the proposed varied development would be minimal. Regular visits would be made to the site for maintenance work; however this would involve relatively low numbers of Light Viking Energy Windfarm LLP November 2018 10-2 Viking Wind Farm Chapter 10 Section 36 Variation Application - EIA Report Access, Traffic and Transport Goods Vehicle and an occasional need for an HGV to access the site for maintenance and repairs. On this basis, operational traffic is scoped out from further assessment. 10.2.6 As described in Chapter 2 Description of Development, the decommissioning of the proposed varied development would generate traffic movements for activities similar to the reverse of construction but probably not involving the movement of abnormal loads (paragraph 2.8.3 above). It is anticipated that traffic generation would be less than for the construction phase therefore the construction phase is taken as a ‘worst case’ for assessment purposes. As such there is no separate assessment of decommissioning traffic. Study Area 10.2.7 The study area comprises the parts of the road network that may be used by construction vehicles accessing the site. Key access routes are shown in Figure 10.1. Scoping and Consultation 10.2.8 No formal scoping or pre-application consultation was completed for the proposed development. This chapter has been prepared with reference to the ES and ES Addendum, which addressed issues raised by SIC. 10.2.9 Based on the ES and ES Addendum, the key access, traffic and transport issues include: • traffic generation and related issues of driver delay; and • cumulative effects. Effects scoped out of assessment 10.2.10 Traffic associated with operation of the proposed varied development is expected to be low and is unlikely to give rise to any appreciable traffic effects. Assessment of operational traffic has therefore been scoped out of this assessment. Overview 10.2.11 This chapter has been prepared by Ramboll, with reference to the Guidelines for the Environmental Assessment of Road Traffic (the Institute of Environmental Assessment (IEA), 1993). 10.2.12 The following rules, taken from the IEA’s guidelines, have been used as a screening process to define the scale and extent of this assessment: • Rule 1 - Include highway links where traffic flows are predicted to increase by more than 30% (or where the number of heavy goods vehicles is predicted to increase by more than 30%); and • Rule 2 - Include any other specifically sensitive areas where traffic flows are predicted to increase by 10% or more. 10.2.13 It should be noted that increases below 10% are generally considered to be insignificant given that daily variations in background traffic flow may fluctuate by this amount. Changes in traffic flows below this level are therefore assumed to result in no discernible environmental impact. Baseline Assessment – Methodology Desk Surveys 10.2.14 In undertaking the baseline assessment, various data sources and documents were reviewed. These included: • Consultation Responses to the ES Scoping Report; • ES and ES Addendum; Viking Energy Windfarm LLP November 2018 10-3 Viking Wind Farm Chapter 10 Section 36 Variation Application - EIA Report Access, Traffic and Transport • 2017 traffic flow data; • Review of any roads hierarchy promoted in relevant Local Transport Strategies; • OS plans to derive a local area roads network; and • Consideration of potential supply locations for construction materials, if not available on-site, to inform extent of local area roads network potentially affected. Field Survey Techniques 10.2.15 Field surveys were undertaken for the ES to enhance the understanding of the roads network in the study area, and to identify potential constraints on that network. These included: • Visual inspection of all roads identified in the study area network; and • Photographic record of any constraints. 10.2.16 The field surveys were not repeated for the 2018 assessment because the results from the 2009 ES are still considered relevant. Effects Evaluation - Methodology Receptor Sensitivity 10.2.17 The assessment of receptor sensitivity is based on the criteria identified in Table 10.1. The classification of settlements and road links was based upon professional judgement. Table 10.1: Receptor Sensitivity Criteria Receptor Low Medium High Sensitivity Location Small rural settlement, Intermediate sized rural Large rural settlement few community or public settlement, containing containing a high number facilities or services. some community or of community and public public facilities and services and facilities. services. Location Little or no traffic calming Some traffic calming or Traffic control signals, or traffic management traffic management waiting and loading measures. measures. restrictions, traffic calming measures. Link Trunk or A-class road, Local A or B class roads, Minor rural roads, not constructed to capable of regular use by constructed to accommodate significant HGV traffic. accommodate frequent HGV composition. use by HGVs.